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T. J. PERRIN. MULTIPLE SWITCH BOARD.

No. 316,396. Patented Apr. 21, 1885.

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.l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. J. PERRIN. .MULTIPLBSWITGH BOARD.

No. 316,395. Patented Apr. "21, 1885.

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MULTIPLE SWITGH BOARD. 4 No. 31 ,395. Patented Apr. 21, 1885.

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PATENT G m-1 THOMAS J. PERRIN, or BROOKLYN, 'Assienonro cnnntns P. nunrincromQ on NEW YOBK,-N'.--Y.i l ,1

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No,316,395, dated AprilZlilSBSif Application filed October 6, 1884 (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it'may concern.-

Be'it known that l, THOMAS J. PERRIN, of

Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of:

New York, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements in Multiple Switch-Boards for Telephone-Exchange Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a switch-board of a simple and economical con-' :0 struction which may be worked with rapidity and facility to meet the demands 'of the subscribers;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a detail view of 'sectio'usof two boards of a multiple series,each'section showing two lineterminals. Fig. 2 is a diagram view showing a portion of the faces of two boards in a multiple series and the apparatus connected therewith; and Fig. 3is; a similar view to Fig. 1, showing a slightly-modified construction.

Referring to Figsal and 2, it will be perceived that the main lines enter the boards, and are directly connected with the cores A of the magnets B at each of their terminals on the several boards. For instance, in Fig. 1 line No. 1 is connected directly with the core of its terminal magnet on the board X, and from thence to the core of its terminal magnet on the board Y. The line is also connected by a wire, 00, with the armature F of the electro-magnet G. This armature is normally in contact with a bar, H, with'which' the oper ators telephone-instrument I is normally connected. We will suppose that the operator at X will answer calls from 1 to 4, inclusive, and the operator at Y will answer calls from 5 to 8,inclusive. Lines 2,3,and 4at X are connected in the same manner through the armatures F of the several electro-magnets G with'the op- Z on board X, and through coil B of terminal Z on board Y, thence to its contact-plate f at the aperture ofeach of said line-terminals. The opposite pole of the battery, as is clearly erators telephone 1, as clearly shown in Fig.

shown, is oonnectedthroughthe coil of the electro-magnet G'with the opposite contact f at each terminal; The local circuit E of line 6 is similarly connected through its'elec- 5 5 tro-magnet G at station X.

The cores A of the several magnets B are arranged in the frame of the boards, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The front end of eachcore is shown as projecting slightly beyond the face of the board, being surrounded by a well or socket in the board for the reception of the plugs,which will presently be described. The

contacts f f of the local circuits are arranged on opposite sides of the opening around the end of the core, so that they may be connected when the terminal is plugged to, so as to complete the local, as is presently described."

- The plugs which I prefer to employ are clearly shown in Fig. 1. They are preferably composed of a hollow ebonite or vulcanite handle, C,within which a contact-rod, c, which is normally thrustoutwardly toward the end of the plug by'a'spiralspring, c,'is arranged. The plugs arein pairs, as shown in Fig. 2, and the contact-pin c in one plug is connected to that in the other through'the spiral spring and ordinary flexible conducting-cord. The nose of the plug 0 is hollowed out, as clearly shown in the drawings, so as to pass over the end of the magnet-A. The outside of this portion of the plug is surrounded with an annular conducting-collar, which, when'the plug is inserted into the board, as shown'in Fig. 1, makes contact'between the plates f f, and completes the local circuit of that particular line.

The operation of the board is as follows: Suppose, for instance, that subscriber No. 1 desires to communicate with subscriber N o. 6; He signals the operator at X through the telephone I, and the operator at that board tests the terminal of line No.6 to ascertain if the line is in use-that is, he touches the end of the iron plug 0 to the 'core A of the magnet at terminal 6; If the magnet is magnetized, 5 he then knows that the local circuit '13 of line 6 has been completed by being plugged to at some other board, and that that line is therefore in use, because the completion of the local circuit E, as before described, will 10o niagnetize; all the cures belonging to line 6 on the several boards. If, however, he finds that same time the plugging to the terminal of line N o. 1 at Fig. 1 completes the local circuit"- E through the coil of its electro-magnet G. This energizes the magnet, which attracts its armature F and breaks the connection" with the contact-plate H, so that the instrument I is cut out of circuit. The operator, by lifting the armature F into contact with the bar H, may at any time throw his telephone into circuit to ascertain when the subscribers have finished conversation.

A description of any of the other lines is unnecessaryfas they are all similarly "con nected. If No. 6 were to call and desired to communicate with No. 1, the operator at station Y would make connections as alrea y de scribed. f Instead of employing such a plug as illustrated in Figs. I and 2, the cores "Aofthe mag'nets'fnay be made'to yield inwardly against the pressure of a coil-spring,'a, theend oi' the core moving in a bracket, 'a, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Under this arrangement the contact-pin c in the handle 0 is rigid, and extends entirely through the handle, as clearly 'i llus trated. 'The'operation is of course identical' with that already described.

I have'shown my invention as organized for practical operation in the way deemed by me best. I do not, however, limit myself to s'pecific details.

Ina'n application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me J une'25,' 1884, No. 135, 996, I have shown a switch-board having the same arrangement of local batteries and' local-battery terminals. In that application,

however, the main line was broken atthe terminal plugged to, so that all the other of said line-terminals on the other boardswere entirely out outof circuit. In the present case it will be perceived that the main-line connections 'with the several terminals are never interrupted. l

The operators at the several boards are, as in the application just referred to, notified of the use of an of the lines by the magnetic condition of the cores at the several terminals, N o'claim is herein made to any subject-mat ter claimed in said application.

I' a'm aware of the patent of Sabin, No. 249,262, November 8,1881, inwhich a-multiple' switch-board is shown having two electromagnets for each main line at its particular board; 'Infthat arrangement the main line is connected with thearm'ature of a magnet included in a local circuit. This armature is normally drawn toward'a contact or stop connected with the operators instruments, and

is permitted to be drawn against said contact to throw the operators instruments into the circuit when a signal-currentis received over the main line by the attraction of the armature of a main-line magnet, which'serves as a catch or detent for the armature first mentioned. Imake no claim to such a structure.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as set forth, in a multiple switch-board, of a main line permanently connected with its terminals on the several boards,a magnet at each'of said terminals, a local circuit in which the coils of all of said magnets are included, and plugs or line-connecting devices which complete said localwhenever one of the main-line terminals "2.The' combination, substantially as set forth, in a multiple switch-board, of a main line permanently connected with, its terminals on the several'boards, andinormally directly connected with operatorslinstruments on' its particular board, plngging or line-connecting devices, and an electro;magnet which. auto: matically cuts the operatorsinstruments out plugged.

3."The combination, substantially asset forth, in a multiple switch-board, of a main line, the several connections'of said line on the several boards, operators instruments with which the main line is normally connected at its particular board a local circuit, contacts at each of said connections or terminals for completing the local circuit whenever the terminal of said line is plugged to, an 'electro-magnet for said line included in said local circuit, and devices, actuated bythe said magnet whenever the local circuit is completed, to; cut the operators instrumentsout of the mainline.

4. The combination, substantially as set,

forth, of a main line, its several connections or terminals on the several boards,an electro: magnet-at each of said terminals, a local circuit which includes the coils of all of said electro-magnets, contacts for completing saidlocal circuit at eaohterminal, pluggingor line-connectin'g devices whichcomplete said local circuit whenever the v terminal of said line is plugged, an electro-magnet for said 1ine,also included in said local circuit, operators instruments normally connected with the main lineat its particular beard, anddQV'ices, actuated by the latter magnet when the local.

circuit is completed, whichthrow the operator s instrument out of the main line.

5. The combination, substantially as set.

. o of the line when the terminal of said line is forth, in a multiple switch-board,1 of a main line, its several connections or terminals on the several boards,an electro-magnet at each terminal, the core of whichis connected di rectly with the main line, a local circuit which includes the coils of said magnets, the contactsof said local circuit at eachterminal, and plugging or line-connecting devices, substantia lly such as described.

1 '6. The combination, substantially as. set forth, in a multiple switch-board, of a permanently unbroken main line, its several conneca tions or terminals on the several boards, an material, an annular collar or circuit-comelectro-magnet at each of said terminals, a local circuit in which the coils of said magnets are included, the contacts of said local circuit 5 at the several terminals, a contact with which the main line is permanently connected at each terminal, and plugging or line-connecting devices which complete the local circuit and make contact with said line contacts when- IO ever the terminals of said line are plugged.

7. The switch-board plug herein described, constructed of a hollow handle of insulating pleter rigidly secured around the nose or plugging end of the handle, a yielding contact-pin, 15 and its spring carried within the handle, and the conducting-cord.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' THOMAS J. PERRIN.

Witnesses:

L. G. YOUNG, NELLIE L. HoLMEs. 

